Rubel Hossain's international career of nearly five years has been one of constant ups and downs, the likes of which not many of his team-mates can relate to so early in their careers. The six-wicket haul and hat-trick which triggered the 43-run win over New Zealand in Mirpur was a performance that should give him a lot more confidence on and off the field.

He became the first Bangladeshi bowler to take four wickets or more on ODI debut, his 4 for 33 setting up a win against Sri Lanka in early 2009. In the next match however, he was the villain, getting hit for four fours and two sixes by, of all people, Muttiah Muralitharan. Bangladesh lost a nailbiting tri-series final, and Rubel drew the ire of the nation. He started off his Test career with a three-wicket haul, but has been expensive in this format. His first and only five-for cost him 166 runs in 29 overs, in early 2010. He was hardly picking up wickets until the four-wicket haul against New Zealand in October that year, a performance that sealed one of the most famous wins in the country's history.

He fell into another lull thereafter, only picking up a four-wicket haul against Zimbabwe in a dead rubber in mid-2011. He continued to be expensive and bereft of wickets before being injured in the BPL's inaugural edition. It put him out for nearly a year, but even after returning against West Indies, his fortunes didn't change, giving away 63 in four overs of a T20 game.

He had another shoulder niggle, then fared poorly against Sri Lanka and was ordinary compared to Man of the Series Robiul Islam in the Test series in Zimbabwe. He was again out of the team, this time due to a bout of chicken pox which prevented him from playing the ODI series against Zimbabwe in May. He regained his fitness, took 19 wickets in six Dhaka Premier Division matches, after which the coach Shane Jurgensen saw a "different Rubel".

An introvert, even listening to him from close quarters can be a task at times. But on Tuesday evening, his confidence imposed itself on New Zealand. His was the loudest whoop at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

It is fun bowling against New Zealand

Rubel Hossain

He was actually Mushfiqur Rahim's last resort after three spinners were smashed for 38 runs in three overs after the rain break after 20 overs. The Bangladesh captain had one over of Mashrafe Mortaza after the New Zealand innings was reduced to 33 overs, so when he turned to Rubel, and given the bowler's recent performances in the slog overs, he was taking a major risk.

The visitors too had started to get the run-rate within their grasp quickly with that early impetus after the rain break. When they got back at 9:00pm, they needed to score at 9.53 runs per over, but by the time Rubel was handed the ball, they required 86 to win from 60 balls.

His first two balls yielded one run before Corey Anderson, Bangladesh's biggest threat with a rapid 46, swung high and hard but only at air. It was a fuller length delivery on the stumps, something that Jurgensen had asked him to bowl repeatedly for the last two years. Anderson's wicket was key to Bangladesh staying in the game but what happened next swung the game further Bangladesh's way. Rubel didn't give Brendon McCullum much room to move, and a ball that took off on the batsman took a leading edge and was caught at point.

The pitch was perhaps spiced up a little with the 35-minute spell of rain, and it was evident in the McCullum dismissal. James Neesham became the hat-trick victim, caught down the leg side by a diving Mushfiqur.

Rubel had earlier dismissed Ross Taylor with a delivery that cut back in after pitching and took the edge as he tried to play it through backward point. He added two more after the hat-trick, those of Nathan McCullum and Grant Elliott, equaling the best figures for a Bangladesh bowler in ODI cricket - Mortaza too had taken 6 for 26 seven years ago against Kenya.

And it was appropriate that Mortaza took both catches to give him his fifth and sixth wickets, because it was Mortaza who inspired Rubel in his childhood in Bagerhat. It was Mortaza whose image he carried when he came to Dhaka after being one of the top-finishers in a nationwide pace-bowling hunt.

Rubel, in his own soft-spoken manner, said that Mortaza had been an inspiration in the field today as well.

"Mashrafe bhai kept running towards me, telling me that I was bowling the right way," Rubel said. "He told me that the cutters and slower balls I was using were perfect.

"Every bowler wants to bowl such a spell. It was in my fate, it happened. I was out due to a shoulder injury for a long time. I worked hard, went through rehab. I wasn't in the ODI squad for a bit. I bowled well in the Dhaka Premier League recently. I feel confident these days."

He added, "It is fun bowling against New Zealand."

To those who know Rubel or have followed him over the last few years, this was an off-the-cuff comment and not one in jest. A few wickets under his belt has given him much-needed confidence.

On Tuesday evening, he soared, and there is hope among those who are going to persist with him, he keeps soaring on and off the field.

Congratulation Rubel for his outstanding performance. For the first time i see that kind of performance from a pace bowler in BD. Rubel should concentrate more on his variations and proper execution in the shorter form of the game . i think he should only concentrate on oneday's and t20, that is the level where he can express himself properly. as a test bowler he is not the right choice, we need more swing and accurate bowler for test matches. test match demands more as it is the toughest form of the game and here for wickets bowlers have to work with best deliveries. this can benefit Rubel as well for his consistent performance. BD batting coach should also work with Enamul Bijoy's footwork. Selectors can ease off his pressure by allowing him to play shorter form of the game.

CricketChat
on October 30, 2013, 19:37 GMT

Rubel always came across as a honest trier though he didn't have much success in the past. Being in an out of side constantly doesn't help either. Hope this success will be a turning point in his career. He has decent pace and is nippy on bouncy pitches.

on October 30, 2013, 9:04 GMT

i like bangladeshi all batsman and bowller...

sirnayem
on October 30, 2013, 7:04 GMT

first of all congratulations to the ever developing cricketing nation Bangladesh for their fantastic win over the black caps ! Go ahead with your winner attitude. all is going well with this series.. per my observation Bijoy should be dropped off the team for instance to give him more time to learn and get ready to absorb the pressure of international level.. though he is one of the finest player of team Tigers, he need some room to breath. it seems he is not going on with the current pressure from his present performances of test and the first ODI innings performance.. such type of performance can demoralize other players as well..

on October 30, 2013, 4:45 GMT

Rubel was much better than Ishant Sharma !

on October 30, 2013, 4:21 GMT

Yes. Shane Jurgenshane really saw the Different RUBEL. Rubel proved that. Hats off to you Rubel

hasib9
on October 30, 2013, 3:49 GMT

Let's have a look at the performance of Bangladesh Team:

- vs. India: Won the last time the teams played each other.
- vs. Sri Lanka: Won the last time the teams played each other.
- vs. West Indies: Won the last SERIES the teams played.
- vs. New Zealand: Won the last FIVE ODIs the teams played.
- vs. England: Won the last time the teams played each other.
- vs. Zimbabwe: Won the last time the teams played each other.
- vs. Ire Land: Won the last time the teams played each other.
- vs. South Africa: Won the last time the teams played each other (it was in T20I in tri-series featuring Zimbabwe).

Tigers are no more the minnows! We are moving towards the right direction and moving towards glory! Beware of the tigers! Beware of Bangladesh!

Manik_mia
on October 30, 2013, 3:35 GMT

I had confidence on Rubel from the beginning. Many people were complaining about him after the Test Series. I saw he is different in ODI. He is top wicket taker in this year's DPL along with Al Amin. Even though Mushrafe is our first choice 2nd and 3rd choice for ODI should be Rubel and Al Amin.

i_amVIVA
on October 30, 2013, 1:53 GMT

Fantastic performance Mr. Rubel Hossain for a superb hattrick. Keep up with that for the next two. Incidentally, the new jersey color looks great on the Tigers, I like it. Go Tigers....

on October 30, 2013, 0:22 GMT

There has never been a worse bowler Statistically at Test Level I don't think. Minimum Qualification 20 Tests.
He is great in ODI's and I agree with everyone elses sentiments that he should only play White Ball cricket. In my opinion he should never play another test match he is that ordinary in Test cricket.

on October 29, 2013, 20:31 GMT

Congratulation Rubel for his outstanding performance. For the first time i see that kind of performance from a pace bowler in BD. Rubel should concentrate more on his variations and proper execution in the shorter form of the game . i think he should only concentrate on oneday's and t20, that is the level where he can express himself properly. as a test bowler he is not the right choice, we need more swing and accurate bowler for test matches. test match demands more as it is the toughest form of the game and here for wickets bowlers have to work with best deliveries. this can benefit Rubel as well for his consistent performance. BD batting coach should also work with Enamul Bijoy's footwork. Selectors can ease off his pressure by allowing him to play shorter form of the game.

CricketChat
on October 30, 2013, 19:37 GMT

Rubel always came across as a honest trier though he didn't have much success in the past. Being in an out of side constantly doesn't help either. Hope this success will be a turning point in his career. He has decent pace and is nippy on bouncy pitches.

on October 30, 2013, 9:04 GMT

i like bangladeshi all batsman and bowller...

sirnayem
on October 30, 2013, 7:04 GMT

first of all congratulations to the ever developing cricketing nation Bangladesh for their fantastic win over the black caps ! Go ahead with your winner attitude. all is going well with this series.. per my observation Bijoy should be dropped off the team for instance to give him more time to learn and get ready to absorb the pressure of international level.. though he is one of the finest player of team Tigers, he need some room to breath. it seems he is not going on with the current pressure from his present performances of test and the first ODI innings performance.. such type of performance can demoralize other players as well..

on October 30, 2013, 4:45 GMT

Rubel was much better than Ishant Sharma !

on October 30, 2013, 4:21 GMT

Yes. Shane Jurgenshane really saw the Different RUBEL. Rubel proved that. Hats off to you Rubel

hasib9
on October 30, 2013, 3:49 GMT

Let's have a look at the performance of Bangladesh Team:

- vs. India: Won the last time the teams played each other.
- vs. Sri Lanka: Won the last time the teams played each other.
- vs. West Indies: Won the last SERIES the teams played.
- vs. New Zealand: Won the last FIVE ODIs the teams played.
- vs. England: Won the last time the teams played each other.
- vs. Zimbabwe: Won the last time the teams played each other.
- vs. Ire Land: Won the last time the teams played each other.
- vs. South Africa: Won the last time the teams played each other (it was in T20I in tri-series featuring Zimbabwe).

Tigers are no more the minnows! We are moving towards the right direction and moving towards glory! Beware of the tigers! Beware of Bangladesh!

Manik_mia
on October 30, 2013, 3:35 GMT

I had confidence on Rubel from the beginning. Many people were complaining about him after the Test Series. I saw he is different in ODI. He is top wicket taker in this year's DPL along with Al Amin. Even though Mushrafe is our first choice 2nd and 3rd choice for ODI should be Rubel and Al Amin.

i_amVIVA
on October 30, 2013, 1:53 GMT

Fantastic performance Mr. Rubel Hossain for a superb hattrick. Keep up with that for the next two. Incidentally, the new jersey color looks great on the Tigers, I like it. Go Tigers....

on October 30, 2013, 0:22 GMT

There has never been a worse bowler Statistically at Test Level I don't think. Minimum Qualification 20 Tests.
He is great in ODI's and I agree with everyone elses sentiments that he should only play White Ball cricket. In my opinion he should never play another test match he is that ordinary in Test cricket.

Nur_nsu
on October 29, 2013, 21:41 GMT

I wouldn't get carried away. It was only one match. He has the spark but need to stay fit and keep pushing. Hopefully he will not give away runs in the next game :-)

on October 29, 2013, 21:40 GMT

go tiger go ahead :)

on October 29, 2013, 20:59 GMT

Really want Bangladesh to continue with the same lineup for the series!

on October 29, 2013, 20:41 GMT

please don't look at the stats. he is the only pacers who can make batsmen play on their back foot. he breaks the monotonous of our lefty's as the other pacers are simple medium fast. until we have another fast bowler let him continue.

AdamShadam
on October 29, 2013, 20:09 GMT

Yes, I remember when Rubel was smacked by Muralitharan and took the game away!!!

TheRisingTeam
on October 29, 2013, 19:48 GMT

Rubel Hossain should only focus on ODIs. His test record ain't that great because it requires a totally different skill to take wickets hence his average is very bad. Everyone knows he has pace and can reverse swing the ball and I have no doubt he will be of a success at the world cup in pitches that are faster, bouncier and have carry. Bangladesh's pace department may be ordinary but there is no need to select our fast bowlers for all formats otherwise injuries will always come here and there. Pacers like Shafiul, Nazmul, Rubel, Mashrafe should ideally be playing limited overs and Robiul, Al-Amin etc for tests. Its all about a good balance for Bangladesh's pacers so the team has lots of options and can deliver and of course less injuries. Excellent figures by Rubel and good to see Bangladesh preparing a wicket that is different for once and supports pacers instead. Bodes well for 2015 world cup. The series is not over yet and more hard work is needed to be done.

Fogu
on October 29, 2013, 19:21 GMT

Well done Rubel. He is an ODI bowler and should only be picked for ODI. Until he learns how to bowl in Tests, he should not be test sides. Good win by BD. Good team effort. Need to have a better opening stand in the next game. Go Tigers!

on October 29, 2013, 20:31 GMT

Congratulation Rubel for his outstanding performance. For the first time i see that kind of performance from a pace bowler in BD. Rubel should concentrate more on his variations and proper execution in the shorter form of the game . i think he should only concentrate on oneday's and t20, that is the level where he can express himself properly. as a test bowler he is not the right choice, we need more swing and accurate bowler for test matches. test match demands more as it is the toughest form of the game and here for wickets bowlers have to work with best deliveries. this can benefit Rubel as well for his consistent performance. BD batting coach should also work with Enamul Bijoy's footwork. Selectors can ease off his pressure by allowing him to play shorter form of the game.

Fogu
on October 29, 2013, 19:21 GMT

Well done Rubel. He is an ODI bowler and should only be picked for ODI. Until he learns how to bowl in Tests, he should not be test sides. Good win by BD. Good team effort. Need to have a better opening stand in the next game. Go Tigers!

TheRisingTeam
on October 29, 2013, 19:48 GMT

Rubel Hossain should only focus on ODIs. His test record ain't that great because it requires a totally different skill to take wickets hence his average is very bad. Everyone knows he has pace and can reverse swing the ball and I have no doubt he will be of a success at the world cup in pitches that are faster, bouncier and have carry. Bangladesh's pace department may be ordinary but there is no need to select our fast bowlers for all formats otherwise injuries will always come here and there. Pacers like Shafiul, Nazmul, Rubel, Mashrafe should ideally be playing limited overs and Robiul, Al-Amin etc for tests. Its all about a good balance for Bangladesh's pacers so the team has lots of options and can deliver and of course less injuries. Excellent figures by Rubel and good to see Bangladesh preparing a wicket that is different for once and supports pacers instead. Bodes well for 2015 world cup. The series is not over yet and more hard work is needed to be done.

AdamShadam
on October 29, 2013, 20:09 GMT

Yes, I remember when Rubel was smacked by Muralitharan and took the game away!!!

on October 29, 2013, 20:41 GMT

please don't look at the stats. he is the only pacers who can make batsmen play on their back foot. he breaks the monotonous of our lefty's as the other pacers are simple medium fast. until we have another fast bowler let him continue.

on October 29, 2013, 20:59 GMT

Really want Bangladesh to continue with the same lineup for the series!

on October 29, 2013, 21:40 GMT

go tiger go ahead :)

Nur_nsu
on October 29, 2013, 21:41 GMT

I wouldn't get carried away. It was only one match. He has the spark but need to stay fit and keep pushing. Hopefully he will not give away runs in the next game :-)

on October 30, 2013, 0:22 GMT

There has never been a worse bowler Statistically at Test Level I don't think. Minimum Qualification 20 Tests.
He is great in ODI's and I agree with everyone elses sentiments that he should only play White Ball cricket. In my opinion he should never play another test match he is that ordinary in Test cricket.

i_amVIVA
on October 30, 2013, 1:53 GMT

Fantastic performance Mr. Rubel Hossain for a superb hattrick. Keep up with that for the next two. Incidentally, the new jersey color looks great on the Tigers, I like it. Go Tigers....

Manik_mia
on October 30, 2013, 3:35 GMT

I had confidence on Rubel from the beginning. Many people were complaining about him after the Test Series. I saw he is different in ODI. He is top wicket taker in this year's DPL along with Al Amin. Even though Mushrafe is our first choice 2nd and 3rd choice for ODI should be Rubel and Al Amin.